A system to facilitate network-based commerce includes receiving information relating to an item to be transacted via a network-based commerce system from a first party. Criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified...http://www.google.com/patents/US7966243?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7966243 - Method and system to automatically qualifying a party to participate in a network-based commerce transaction

Method and system to automatically qualifying a party to participate in a network-based commerce transactionUS 7966243 B2

Abstract

A system to facilitate network-based commerce includes receiving information relating to an item to be transacted via a network-based commerce system from a first party. Criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to transact for the item via the network-based commerce system is received from the first party. An automatic determination is made as to whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion and if so, then the second party is automatically qualified to transact for the item via the network-based commerce system.

Images(22)

Claims(65)

1. A method to facilitate computer-based commerce, the method including:

receiving, from a first party, item information relating to an item to be offered for sale via a computer-based commerce system;

receiving, from the first party, criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to bid for purchase of the item via the computer-based commerce system, the at least one criterion comprising an activity criterion relating to previous bidding activity of the second party within the computer-based commerce system;

automatically determining whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion; and

automatically qualifying the second party to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system when the second party satisfies the at least one criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the second party fails to satisfy the at least one criterion, automatically disqualifying the second party from bidding for the item via the computer-based commerce system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the qualifying the second party includes, at the computer-based commerce system, enabling the second party to establish a transaction with respect to the item, and wherein the disqualifying the second party includes, at the computer-based commerce system, preventing the second party from establishing the transaction with respect to the item.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the qualifying the second party includes, at the computer-based commerce system, making the item information relating to the item available to the second party, and wherein the-disqualifying the second party includes, at the computer-based commerce system, hiding the item information relating to the item from the second party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion information specifies a plurality of criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the criterion information specifies a relationship among the plurality of criteria so as to define a criterion function.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion comprises an identification criterion identifying the second party, and wherein the determining includes determining whether the second party satisfies the identification criterion.

8. The method of claim 1, including receiving a request from the second party to bid for the item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a geographic criterion specifying a geographic location associated with the second party.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion comprises an age criterion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a reputation criterion relating to a reputation of the second party within the computer-based commerce system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reputation on the second party is at least partially determined by feedback information provided to the computer-based commerce system by a third party.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the feedback information indicates a score on a feedback scale.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the feedback information is positive or negative.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity criterion identifies a specific previous transaction of the previous bidding activity that, when performed by the second party, disqualifies the second party from being authorized to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity criterion specifies a threshold for the previous bidding activity that, if exceeded by the second party, disqualifies the second party from being authorized to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a transaction criterion relating to transaction activity pertaining to a transaction for the item.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the transaction criterion includes submitting a purchase offer price for the item that exceeds a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion information is associated with the item information and pertains only to the item.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the criterion information is associated with the first party, and pertains to a plurality of items to be offered for sale by the first party via the computer-based commerce system.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the item information identifies and describes of any one of a product or a service.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining includes accessing second party information concerning the second party stored by the computer-based commerce system.

23. The method claim 22, wherein the second party information comprises profile information profiling the second party.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the profile information is submitted by the second party.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the profile information is automatically generated by the computer-based commerce system.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the second party information includes activity information collected by the computer-based commerce system, the activity information to include transaction activity of the second party while utilizing the computer-based commerce system.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer-based commerce system is an auction system, and to offer the item for sale includes an auction process.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the qualification of the second party includes enabling the second party to submit a bid for the item within the auction process.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer-based commerce system is a fixed-price transaction system, and to offer the item for sale includes a fixed-price transaction process.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the qualification of the second party to bid for the item includes enabling the second party to accept an offer for the item within the fixed-priced transaction process.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the qualifying the second party to bid for the item includes, at the computer-based commerce system, recording the second party as qualified to bid with respect to the item.

32. A system to facilitate computer-based commerce, the system including:

a web server comprising:

a parser configured to receive, from a first party, item information relating to an item to be offered for sale via a computer-based commerce system and criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to bid for purchase of the item via the computer-based commerce system, the at least one criterion comprising an activity criterion relating to previous transaction activity of the second party within the computer-based commerce system; and

a page builder to construct user interface information; and

an application server comprising:

a qualification module configured to automatically determine whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion, and when the second party satisfies the at least one criterion, to automatically qualify the second party to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system; and

a transaction module to implement a sale process for an item.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the qualification module is further to automatically disqualify the second party from bidding for the item via the computer-based commerce system when the second party fails to satisfy the at least one criterion.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the criterion information specifies a plurality of criteria.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the criterion information specifies a relationship among the plurality of criteria so as to define a criterion function.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the qualification module utilizes the at least one criterion as an identification criterion to identify the second party, and wherein the qualification module determines whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion based on whether the second party satisfies the identification criterion.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the transaction module is to receive a request from the second party to bid for the item.

38. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a geographic criterion specifying a geographic location associated with the second party.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one criterion comprises an age criterion.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a reputation criterion relating to a reputation of the second party within the computer-based commerce system.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the qualification module at least partially determines the reputation of the second party based on feedback information provided to the computer-based commerce system by a third party.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the feedback information indicates a score on a feedback scale.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the feedback information is positive or negative.

44. The system of claim 32, wherein the activity criterion identifies a specific previous transaction activity that, if performed by the second party, disqualifies the second party from being authorized to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system.

45. The system of claim 32, wherein the activity criterion specifies a threshold for the previous transaction activity that, if exceeded by the second party, disqualifies the second party from being authorized to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system.

46. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one criterion comprises a transaction criterion relating to transaction activity pertaining to a transaction for the item.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the transaction criterion includes submitting a purchase offer price for the item that exceeds a threshold value.

48. The system of claim 32, wherein the criterion information is associated with the item information and pertains only to the item.

49. The system of claim 32, wherein the criterion information is associated with the first party, and pertains to a plurality of items to be offered for sale by the first party via the computer-based commerce system.

50. The system of claim 32, wherein the item information identifies and describes of any one of a product or a service.

51. The system of claim 32, wherein the qualification module automatically determines whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion by accessing second party information concerning the second party stored by the computer-based commerce system.

52. The system claim 51, wherein the second party information comprises profile information profiling the second party.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the profile information is submitted by the second party.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the computer-based commerce system automatically generates the profile information.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the computer-based commerce system collects second party information that includes activity information, the activity information to include transaction activity of the second party while utilizing the computer-based commerce system.

56. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer-based commerce system is an auction system, and offering the item for sale includes an auction process.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the qualification module is further configured to automatically enable the second party to bid for the item within the auction process.

58. The system of claim 32, wherein the computer-based commerce system is a fixed-price transaction system, and to offer the item for sale includes a fixed-price transaction process.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the qualification module to automatically qualify the second party to bid for the item includes to automatically enable the second party to accept an offer for the item within the fixed-priced transaction process.

60. The system of claim 32, wherein the qualification module to automatically qualify the second party at the computer-based commerce system includes to record the second party as qualified to bid for the item.

61. The system of claim 32, wherein the qualification module to automatically qualify the second party, at the computer-based commerce system, is to enable the second party to establish a transaction with respect to the item, and wherein the qualification module is further to prevent a transaction by the second party with respect to the item when the second party fails to satisfy the at least one criterion.

62. The system of claim 32, wherein the qualification module to automatically qualify the second party, at the commerce system, is further to make the item information that relates to the item available to the second party, and wherein the qualification module is further to hide the item information that relates to the item from the second party when the second party fails to satisfy the at least one criterion.

63. A machine readable medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:

receive, from a first party, item information that relates to an item to be offered for sale via a computer-based commerce system;

receive, from the first party, criterion information to specify at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to bid for purchase of the item via the computer-based commerce system, the at least one criterion comprising an activity criterion relating to previous bidding activity of the second party within the computer-based commerce system;

automatically determine whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion; and

automatically qualify the second party to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system when the second party satisfies the at least one criterion.

64. A system to facilitate computer-based commerce, the system including:

a server means for receiving, from a first party, item information relating to an item to be offered for sale via a computer-based commerce system and criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to bid for purchase of the item via the computer-based commerce system, the at least one criterion comprising an activity criterion relating to previous transaction activity of the second party within the computer-based commerce system; and

an application server comprising a qualification module to automatically determine whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion, and the qualification module to automatically qualify the second party to bid for the item via the computer-based commerce system when the second party satisfies the at least one criterion.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the at least one criterion includes information relating to any previous bid retraction by the second party, wherein the bid was for a previous item offered for sale in the computer-based commerce system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national application based on International Application WO 02/44860, filed Nov. 30, 2001, which claimed the benefit of the filing date of U.S. utility patent application Ser. No. 09/881,911, filed Jun. 15, 2001, and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 60/250,637, filed Nov. 30, 2000.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of network-based and electronic commerce. Specifically, the present invention relates to the qualification of a party to participate within a network-based commerce transaction facilitated by a network-based commerce facility such as, for example, an Internet-based shopping or auction facility.

ART BACKGROUND

More and more Internet users are realizing the ease and convenience of buying and selling online by way of person-to-person online trading (or transaction processing) pioneered by eBay Inc. As a result, collectors, hobbyists, small dealers, unique item seekers, bargain hunters, and other consumers are able to buy and sell millions of items at various online shopping sites.

The success of the online shopping sites, such as the Internet-based shopping facilities, depends upon their ability to provide enjoyable shopping experiences and easy-to-use and reliable environments in which buyers and sellers can conduct business efficiently. The online shopping sites can offer their services by facilitating auctions or by allowing sellers to offer their offerings for fixed prices. The current Internet-based shopping facilities have been presented with public relations risks due to excessive bid retraction and cancellation activities. For example, the reputation of eBay Inc. as a safe trading place was threatened because of the excessive bid retraction and cancellation activities during the recent auction of the Titanic deck chair and other high profile listings. It is estimated that as many as eighty percent of the bids made on the Internet-based shopping facilities are bogus.

Network-based commerce has of course found broad application beyond person-to-person trading, and is extensively used to perform business-to-business (B2B) trading. Within the B2B environment, a party (e.g., potential buyer) may engage in a transaction activity or have a profile that is undesirable from the perspective of a further party (e.g., a potential seller).

In the light of the foregoing, there is a need to enhance the trust and confidence within online transaction facilities. Particularly, it would be valuable and useful to provide a party to an online transaction with a degree of confidence that a further party is sincere and qualified to engage in a transaction process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to facilitate network-based commerce. Item information relating to an item to be transacted via a network-based commerce system is received from a first party. Criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to transact for the item via the network-based commerce system is received from the first party. An automatic determination is made as to whether the second party satisfies the at least one criterion and if so, then the second party is automatically qualified to transact for the item via the network-based commerce system.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method to facilitate network-based shopping. A communication between a network-based auction facility and a seller is facilitated whereby the seller authorizes a bidder to bid on an offering offered for sale by the seller is disclosed.

Furthermore, the method comprises automatically recording the bidder as authorized to bid on the offering responsive to the communication.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary network-based commerce facility in the form of an Internet-based auction facility.

FIG. 2 illustrates the web home page for an exemplary Internet-based auction facility.

FIG. 7 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database for the Internet-based auction facility.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the bidder feedback profile summary table.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of one exemplary embodiment of the bidder feedback profile details table.

FIG. 10 illustrates the flow chart of one embodiment of the method for seller authorized bidding through an Internet-based auction facility.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary commerce system that may at least partially perform an automatic qualification, or disqualification, of a second party to transact for an item.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, whereby a first party (e.g., a seller user) may define and specify criteria to be satisfied by a second party (e.g., a buyer user) in order for the second party to be automatically qualified to transact for a specific item, or for a number of items (e.g., all items offered for sale by the first party).

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of an item and criterion information input user interface, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary items table.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary criteria table.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a first exemplary method whereby a commerce system may automatically qualify a second party to transact, or disqualify a second party from transacting, with respect to a particular item, or group of items.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating a second exemplary method whereby a commerce system may automatically qualify a second party to transact, or disqualify a second party from transacting, with respect to a particular item, or group of items.

FIG. 19 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplary form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed above, may be executed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system to qualify a party to transact with respect to an item via a network-based commerce system are described. In one embodiment, this qualification is manually performed by implementing seller-authorized transacting privileges. In one embodiment, and the present invention proposes a method and system whereby a first party (e.g., a seller) can authorize transacting privileges (e.g., buying privileges) for a second party (e.g., a buyer) to transact for an item message dated with the first party. The transacting privileges can include, for example, the authorization to bid on an auction listing of the first party and/or the authorization to offer to buy a fixed price listing of the first party. A listing may, for example, relate to an item. In this description, the terms listing and item and offering are used interchangeably. Unauthorized bidders are disabled (or barred) from transacting for an item.

An advantage of one embodiment of the present invention is that a first party (e.g., a seller) does not manually have to monitor or participate in transacting activities because only the parties manually pre-approved by the first party, or automatically qualified by the commerce system utilizing predefined criteria specified by the first party, are allowed to transact (e.g., bid on or offer to buy) for an item associated with the first party. The shoppers (or potential buyers) also benefit from this embodiment of the present invention because a healthier trading environment is created because only the pre-approved (or qualified) candidates are allowed to compete for a particular item. The community of users of a commerce system benefits in general because the commerce system is perceived to facilitate worthwhile transacting because only the serious parties are allowed to transact for an item (e.g., bid on and offer to buy the listings). Seller authorized buying privileges can be requested by any seller with privileges to list on the commerce system (e.g., a shopping facility) and for any listing, although the sellers with high profile or high value listings would have more incentive to do so. Further, sellers wishing to restrict a pool of potential buyers would also find certain embodiments of the present invention useful. Of course, the invention may also find application where a buyer is soliciting offers (e.g., request for quotes) and wishes to restrict a pool of potential suppliers.

In the at least part of ensuing description, a method and system to qualify a party to transact with respect to an item utilizing a commerce system in the exemplary form of network-based auction facility are described. It will be appreciated that the method and system are also applicable to a commerce system in the form of a network-based fixed-price facility or a commerce system that provides a multitude of transaction processes (e.g., any number of types of auction transaction processes and any number of fixed-price transaction processes). In various embodiments of the present invention, a first party is empowered to use different mechanisms to qualify parties to transact for a particular item. For example, considering an auction facility as an example of a commerce system, a seller may view a potential bidder's bidding history and profile to determine whether or not to pre-approve the bidder to bid on a listing. It is understood that if the vetting process is too strict, the conversion rate on the item will be affected. To mitigate, in one embodiment, the commerce system educates the sellers to use proper vetting mechanism to choose their bidders. Also, in one embodiment, the seller may remove the pre-approval restriction anytime during an auction. For example, the seller may wish to take the risk to open the listing to all potential bidders if the pre-approval restriction produces no bids or the bids amounts are low. In one embodiment, the seller may add and remove the pre-approval restriction multiple times during the auction.

In one embodiment, the seller may remove a bidder from the pre-approved list after the seller has added the bidder to the pre-approved list. In one embodiment, the seller may add bidders to and remove bidders from the pre-approved list multiple times during the auction of the listing. In one embodiment, the seller may request the pre-approval of bidders for his/her listing without specifying any bidders initially, and then add the bidders to the pre-approved list from time to time. In one embodiment, the seller has the choice to apply the pre-approve bidders list from a prior or current listing to all on-going listings with the auction facility and/or any future listings. In one embodiment, the seller may pre-approve the bidders individually or in a bulk. In one embodiment, the seller may view the list of the pre-approved bidders and their respective Usernames/email addresses by logging on to the auction facility web site and providing the listing identification number.

In one embodiment, the parties within a specific geographical region (e.g. the United States of America) may be automatically pre-approved to bid on an item. In one embodiment, only the predetermined currencies can be used to bid on a listing.

Further, while the exemplary embodiment described herein describe sellers as qualifying potential buyers, it will be appreciated that the invention may be utilized by buyers to qualify potential sellers.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

For the purposes of the present specification, the terms “items” shall be deemed to include products, goods and services. The term “party” shall be deemed to include any party (human or automated) that is capable of transacting for an item or utilizing commerce system. The term “party” shall accordingly include buyers, sellers, shoppers, customers, bidders etc.

Qualification/Disqualification of a Party to Transact-Auction Facility Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary commerce system in the form of an Internet-based auction facility 10. While an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described within the context of an auction facility 10, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention will find application in many different types of network-based commerce systems.

The auction facility 10 includes an authorization module 40 and a communications module 42. The authorization module 40 includes CGI servers 18 (or application servers) that provide an intelligent interface to the back-end of the auction facility 10, a database engine server 22 and a database 23. The communications module 42 includes one or more of a number of types of front-end servers, namely page servers 12 (or Web servers) that deliver web pages (e.g., markup language documents), picture servers 14 that dynamically deliver images to be displayed within Web pages, listing servers 16, CGI servers 18, and search servers 20 that handle search requests to the facility 10. E-mail servers 21 provide, inter alia, automated e-mail communications to the users of the auction facility 10.

The back-end servers include a database engine server 22, a search index server 24 and a credit card database server 26, each of which maintains and facilitates access to a respective database.

The Internet-based auction facility 10 may be accessed by a client program 30, such as a browser (e.g., the Internet Explorer distributed by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash.) that executes on a client machine 32 and accesses the auction facility 10 via a network such as, for example, the Internet 34. The sellers and the buyers (or bidders) access the auction facility 10 through the client machines 32. Other examples of networks that a client may utilize to access the auction facility 10 include a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network), the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) network or as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary web home page 100 that may be generated by the Internet-based auction facility 10. The home page 100 includes a “seller services” link 102, which provides access to the seller services page. The seller services page, in turn, includes a buying and selling tools link, which provides access to the buying and selling tools page. The buying and selling tools page, in turn, includes a pre-approve bidders link, which provides access to the pre-approve bidders logon web page.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary pre-approve bidders logon web page 200 that may be generated by the Internet-based auction facility 10. The pre-approve logon page 200 prompts the seller to provide a proper username 202 and password 204. When the seller provides the proper username 202 and password 204, the logon page 200 provides access to the pre-approve bidders main web page.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary pre-approve bidders main web page 300 that may be generated by the Internet-based auction facility 10. The pre-approve bidders main page 300 displays currently active auction listings 302 and past auction listings 304 for the particular seller. The pre-approve bidders main page 300 includes an “edit” link 306, which allows the seller to edit the pre-approve bidders list for the corresponding listing 302. The editing can include adding bidders to or subtracting bidders from the pre-approve bidders list. The pre-approve bidders main page 300 also includes a “deactivate” link 308, which allows the seller to deactivate the pre-approve bidders list such that potential bidders need not seek the seller's authorization to bid on the listing. If the seller removes the pre-approval restriction during an auction, the auction facility 10 requests the seller to inform the pre-approved bidders that the listing is now available to all potential bidders. In one embodiment, the seller can inform the pre-approved bidders of the removal of the pre-approval restriction through email. The pre-approve bidders main page 300 also includes an “add a new item” link 310, which provides access to the pre-approve bidders form page.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary pre-approve bidders form web page 400 generated by the Internet-based auction facility 10. The pre-approve bidders form page 400 prompts the seller to provide an item number 402. The item number 402 can be provided by the auction facility 10 and corresponds to the item for which the seller wishes to pre-approve the bidders. The form page 400 also prompts the seller to add or remove the identifiers 404 for the bidders whom the seller wishes to authorize to bid on the particular item. The identifier 404 can include the bidder Username. The bidder identifiers 404 that are added to the form page 400 are stored in an authorized bidders table described below with reference to FIG. 7. The view item web page described below with references to FIGS. 6A and 6B is updated to include the information submitted through the form page 400. In one embodiment, if the seller's username 302 does not match with the item number 402, the auction facility 10 prompts an error message asking the seller to recheck the item number 402. In one embodiment, if the Username for the bidder does not match with a Username in the bidder table in the database 23, the auction facility 10 prompts an error message indicating that the bidder is not registered, suspended, terminated or merged.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary view item web page 500 generated by the Internet-based auction facility 10. If the seller has requested pre-approval restriction for the item, the auction facility 10 flashes an error message 520 when the unauthorized bidders attempt to bid on the item. An exemplary error message 520 is illustrated in FIG. 6C. The error message 520 advises the unauthorized bidder to contact the seller to seek the pre-approval to bid. The error message 520 can appear in the bidder box area 510. In one embodiment, if the potential bidder is on the pre-approve bidders list to bid on this item, the auction facility 10 prompts him/her with a message to continue with the bidding process.

The view item page 500 includes an “about me” page link 502, which provides access to an about me web page. The unauthorized bidders may visit the about me page for more details regarding the seller, including the seller's vetting process/guidelines. In one embodiment, the “about me” page link 502 is added in the item description area 504. In one embodiment, when the seller removes the pre-approval restriction, the restricted message is removed from the bid box area. In one embodiment, the seller can request pre-approval restriction after the auction has begun for the remaining time on the auction. In such a case, in one embodiment, the seller can manually cancel the bids made prior to the implementation of the pre-approval restriction.

Database Structure

The auction facility 10 provides the seller with information regarding the potential bidder such that the seller can make an informed determination regarding whether to pre-approve the bidder. The information may include the bidder's bidding history and feedback profile. The information is included in the database 23. In one embodiment, the seller provides the auction facility 10 with the bidder contact information to obtain information regarding the bidder. The bidder contact information can include the bidder Username or email address. The seller may obtain the bidder contact information directly from the bidder or from the auction facility 10. The auction facility 10 matches the contact information provided by the seller with the contact information stored in the database 23 to provide the seller with user information.

FIG. 7 is a database diagram illustrating an exemplary database 23, maintained by and accessed via the database engine server 22, which at least partially implements and supports the auction facility 10. The database 23 may, in one embodiment, be implemented as a relational database, and includes a number of tables having entries, or records, that are linked by indices and keys. In an alternative embodiment, the database 23 may be implemented as a collection of objects in an object-oriented database.

The database 23 includes a bidder (or party) table 602, which contains a listing of the registered bidders of the auction facility 10. The bidder table 602 can also be referred to as the user table because each user may operate as both a bidder and a seller within the auction facility 10. The bidder table includes a link to a bidding history table 604 for each registered bidder. Each bidding history table 604 is populated with the particular bidder's bidding history records. Each bidding history record may include, inter alia, the title of a listing that was/is being auctioned via the auction facility 10, the bidder's bidding amount, and bid retraction information. The bid retraction information indicates whether the bidder retracted his/her bid on a particular item. Two other tables are also shown linked to the bidder table 602, namely a bidder feedback profile summary table 606 and a bidder feedback profile details table 608. The database 23 also includes an authorized bidders table 610 for each item for which the seller has requested the pre-approval of the bidders. The authorized bidders table 610 includes a list of bidder identifiers 404 that are authorized to bid on the particular item. The bidder identifier 404 can include the bidder Username.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the bidder feedback profile summary table 606. The summary table 606 stores a summary of the feedback information regarding the bidders. Sellers and bidders that have experienced a particular bidder's behavior during the past auctions provide the feedback information (or comments) regarding to the bidder. The summary table 606 includes a bidder identifier column 702 that stores, for each bidder, a bidder identifier providing a pointer to the bidder table 602. The total score column 704 stores the total number of feedback comments (e.g., negative, positive and neutral) received for each bidder. The total negative column 706 stores the total number of negative feedback comments received for each bidder, and the total positive column 708 similarly stores the total number of positive feedback comments received for each bidder. The number of retractions column 710 stores the total number of threads that each bidder has retracted from auctions.

The summary table 606 provides a summary of the impressions of the users of the auction facility 10 regarding a particular bidder. Each bidder of the summary table 606 is linked to a bidder feedback profile details table 608. It is contemplated that other embodiments of the summary table 606 can include additional information, such as whether the bidder has a credit card on file with the auction facility 10 and whether the bidder is agreeable to use of an online payment service (e.g., Billpoint).

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of the bidder feedback profile details table 608. The details table 608 is populated with entries reflecting the details of each feedback comment or opinion submitted by users to the auction facility 10 regarding a particular bidder. Typically, the users submitting the comments include sellers on whose auction listings the bidder has bid in the past. In one exemplary embodiment, the users are only permitted to provide feedback pertaining to a transaction upon conclusion of that transaction. The feedback details table 608 includes the item number column 802 that identifies the items for which the comments were submitted. The comment column 804 stores the actual texts of the feedbacks, comments, or opinions. The type column 806 stores the indications as to whether the comments are positive, negative or neutral. The date column 808 stores the dates on which the feedbacks, comments or opinions were received. The response column 810 stores the texts of the responses submitted by the bidder in response to the comments texts stored in column 804. Similarly, the rebuttal column 812 stores the texts of the rebuttals to such responses. The commentator column 814 stores the identifiers of the users that submitted the original comments stored in column 804. It is appreciated that further dates and other descriptive information may also populate the details table 608.

The tables 602, 604, 606 and 608 include information that can provide the seller with valuable insights when evaluating a potential bidder. In one embodiment, the information contained in the tables 602, 604, 606 and 608 is easily accessible to the sellers. The seller can provide the bidder's identifier such as the Username or email address to access the information stored in the tables 602, 604, 606 and 608. It is contemplated that the databases of alternate embodiments can include additional tables that provide additional bidders related information.

FIG. 10 illustrates the flow chart of one embodiment of a method 900 for seller authorized bidding through an Internet-based auction facility 10. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with certain modifications the method 900 is applicable in many different types of network-based, and network-based, commerce systems.

At block 902, a seller registered with the auction facility 10 logs on to a website that provides access to the auction facility 10. If the seller were already logged on, then he/she need not logon again to use request the pre-approval restriction. The suspended, merged, or terminated seller who cannot use any other feature on the auction facility 10 is prohibited from using the seller authorized bidding feature.

At block 904, the seller identifies the item for which he wishes to add the pre-approval restriction. At block 906, an alert text appears on the item web page to alert the potential bidders to get a pre-approval from the seller to bid on the item. The item web page or another web page linked to the item web page provides the potential bidder with the seller contact information and vetting process information. At block 908, the potential bidder contacts the seller and requests permission to bid on the item. In one embodiment, the bidder must be registered with and logged on to the auction facility 10. The bidder provides the seller with a bidder identifier, such as the Username or email address. At block 910, the seller uses the bidder identifier to retrieve and view the bidder's bidding history and profile information. At block 912, the seller determines whether to add the bidder to the pre-approve bidders list (i.e., whether to qualifying the bidder to transact (e.g., bid) for the item). At block 914, if the determination is positive, the seller adds in the bidder identifier identifying the potential bidder to the pre-approve bidders list. The bidder identifier is then added to an appropriate authorization table within the database 23. At block 916, if the determination is negative, the bidder identifier is not added to the authorization table. In one embodiment, the potential bidder is informed through email that the seller has rejected his/her request for pre-approval. At block 918, the seller may edit the pre-approve bidder list. The editing can include the addition of the potential bidder to the list that was rejected at block 912. The editing can also include the removal of a bidder from the list.

When a bidder attempts to bid on an item, the authorization module 40 checks whether the bidder identifier is included in the item authorization table. If the bidder identifier is included in the item authorization table, the bidder is allowed (or enabled) to bid on the item. If the bidder identifier is not included in the item authorization table, the bidder receives an error message.

Automatic Qualification/Disqualification of a Party to Transact

The embodiment of the present invention described above implemented a partially manual qualification/disqualification process where a first party (e.g., a seller) manually qualified or disqualified a second party (e.g., a potential buyer) to transact for an item via a network-based commerce system (e.g., of the auction facility 10). Thereafter, the qualification of the second party was performed by having the first party submit identification criteria (e.g., a username or e-mail address), identifying the second party, to the network-based commerce system. The network-based commerce system then automatically qualifies the second party to transact for an item when the second satisfies the identification criterion (e.g., when the identity of the second party is confirmed through an appropriate login process).

A further embodiment of the present invention is described below wherein the automatic qualification of the second party to transact for an item within a commerce system may be performed utilizing a broad scope of criteria. In this way, a first party (e.g., seller) can potentially have the commerce system automatic qualify or disqualify a second party from transacting with respect to a specific item, or with respect to a number of items, associated with the first party without requiring that the first party manually to approve or disapprove the second party.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary commerce system 1100 that may at least partially perform the automatic qualification, or disqualification, of a second party to transact for an item. The commerce system 110 may implement any one or more of a number of transaction processes, such as auction, fixed price, reverse auction, declining price auction, or bulk-purchase processes. The commerce system 1100 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes an application server 1102 (e.g., the CGI server 18 illustrated in FIG. 1) that communicates with a web server 1104 (e.g., a page server 112 as illustrated in FIG. 1) and a database engine server 1106 (e.g., the database engine server 22 illustrated in FIG. 1). The application server 1102 hosts a number of application modules that perform functions related to the operation of the commerce system 1100. For example, the application server 1102 is shown to include a qualification module 1108 that operates, in a manner described below, to qualify parties to transact with respect to an item via the commerce system 110. The application server 1102 also incorporates a transaction module 1110 that operates to implement a transaction process (e.g., an auction or fixed price transaction process) via which an item may be transacted between two or more parties.

Data required by the various modules of the application server 1102 is requested by, and communicated to, the application server 1102 from the database engine server 1106. To this end, the database engine server 1106 may host a number of queries, or stored procedures, that operate to retrieve requested data from a database 1112. For example, the database engine server 1106 is shown to host item records queries 1114, criteria queries 1116 and profile queries 1118. The utilization of these queries will be described in further detail below.

The application server 1102 also communicates data to, and receives data from, a web server 1104. The web server 1104 is responsible, in one embodiment, for the generation and transmission of user interface information (e.g., a markup language document such as an HTML document) that may be utilized by a client application (e.g., a browser) executing on a computing device (e.g., a personal computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), mobile telephone, etc.) to generate a user interface for the display of data to, and the receipt of data from, a user of the commerce system 110. To this end, the web server 1104 is shown to include a page build module 1120 to construct user interface information and a parser 1122 utilized to deconstruct data transmissions received via a communications network (e.g., the Internet 34).

Having now provided an architectural description of an exemplary commerce system 1100, a description of the operation of the exemplary commerce system 1100 will be provided below with reference to a number of flow charts and user interface diagrams.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method 1200, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, whereby a first party (e.g., a seller user of the commerce system 1100) may define and specify criteria to be satisfied by a second party (e.g., a buyer user of the commerce system 1100) in order for the second party automatically to be qualified to transact for a specific item, or for a number of items (e.g., all items offered for sale by the first party). It will accordingly be appreciated that the specified criteria may be associated with a specific item, or associated with a specific party (e.g., the first party).

The method 1200 commences at block 1202 at the commerce system 1100, with the generation and transmission to a first party of data specifying (or relating to) an item and criterion information input user interface. At block 1204, the item and criterion information input user interface is generated and displayed to the first party (e.g., a selling user) on a computing device of the first party.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic representation of an item and criterion information input user interface 1300, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The input user interface 1300 is shown to include an item information portion 1302 and a criteria information portion 1304. The item information portion 1302 is shown to include a number of input fields into which the first user may input item information, such as name, price, transaction preference, item description and transaction condition (or parameter) information. Similarly, the criteria information portion 1304 includes a number of input fields into which the first party may optionally input criteria that must be satisfied by a second party in order to qualify the second party to transact with respect to the item described in the item information portion 1302, and according to the transaction preferences and transaction conditions described in the item information portion 1302. It will be appreciated that the criteria options that are presented in the criteria information portion 1304 may be dependent upon the type of transaction being facilitated by the commerce system 1100, the nature of the item to which the transaction pertains, user preferences and any number of variables. It will further be appreciated that criteria information types (e.g., the non-exhaustive list of exemplary criteria options described below) may also be used for the purpose of manual qualification of party to participate in a network-based commerce transaction. For example, each of the criteria options described below may be retrieved from the bidders bidding history or profile information thereby enabling the seller to make a determination whether the bidder may be added to a preapproved bidders list.

FIG. 13 provides a non-exhaustive list of exemplary criteria options that may be presented to the first party. A geographic criterion (or constraint) to be satisfied by a qualified second party may specify a geographic location (e.g., continent, country, state, city, town, zip code) in which a second party must decide to qualify to transact. A geographic constraint may also be expressed as a distance from a predetermined location (e.g., a maximum distance from the hometown of the first party). An age criteria (or constraint) may restrict a qualified second party to exceeding a predetermined minimum age threshold, to being below a predetermined maximum age threshold, or to be within a particular age range (e.g., 20-34 years old).

A reputation criterion (or constraint) may require that a qualified second party have a minimum predetermined reputation within the commerce system 1100. For example, the commerce system 1100 may implement a reputation system whereby the reputation of a particular user is expressed according to a particular scale or as a score. Any number of factors may contribute towards the establishment and definition of a reputation of a user, such as feedback from parties with whom the relevant user has interacted utilizing the commerce system 1100 (e.g., a number of negative of positive feedback comments), a history of transaction activity by the relevant user with respect to the commerce system 1100, and a history of violations of rules established by the commerce system 1100. A reputation measure may also be established by other factors, such as the amount of time that a particular user has been an active or registered user of the commerce system 1100, the age of the user, a financial standing of the user, etc.

A prior activity criterion (or constraint) may require that a qualified second party not have undertaken, or engaged in (or alternatively have positively undertaken or engaged in) a specified prior transaction activity. For example, the prior activity criterion may dictate that a qualified second party not have previously retracted a bid within an auction transaction process facilitated by the commerce system 1100, or that the qualified second party not have retracted more than a predetermined maximum threshold number of bids within one or more auction transaction processes, optionally within a predetermined time. On the other hand, the prior activity criterion may require that a qualified second party have made a payment to a further party with which the second party transacted within a predetermined time period, or have delivered a purchased item within a predetermined time period or in a predetermined condition, in order for the second party to be qualified.

A time/date criterion (or constraint) may limit the time/date during which a second party is qualified to transact with respect to an item, or may act as a supplement criterion to the define a further criterion. For example, in the time/date criterion may be utilized to identify a time interval within which the prior activity specified by the prior activity criterion must have occurred in order to qualify or disqualified the second party (e.g., may specify a time interval within which a predetermined number of bid retractions must have occurred in order to disqualify the second party).

A financial criterion (or constraint) may require that a qualified second party, for example, have a credit rating above a predetermined minimum value, or not have previously been declared bankrupt. A financial criterion may also require that a qualified second party have a history of making payment within a predetermined maximum time period, or have a predetermined amount of funds (or credit resource) within an account with the commerce system 1100, or with a financial institution associated with or accessible by the commerce system 1100. The financial criterion may also require that to the second party have a credit card on record with the commerce system 1100, or agreed to use a particular payment service (e.g., Billpoint or PayPal).

A language criterion (or constraint) may require that a qualified second party indicate a predetermined language preference, or have previously transacted via the commerce system 1100 in a particular language, in order to qualify. Similarly, a currency activity criterion (or constraint) may require that a qualified second party have previously transacted in a predetermined currency. Finally, the exemplary criterion information may also allow the first party to implement a manual override for a fully automatic approval process, whereby manual approval by the first party of a second party is required in order to finally qualify the second party to transact, even if the second party succeeds in satisfying the criterion associated with a particular item.

The input user interface 1300 may optionally also allow the first party to specify relationships between one or more criterion so as to facilitate the formulation of a “qualification formula” or a complex qualification policy that is expressed in terms of multiple criterion. For example, the input user interface 1300 may facilitate specification of an AND or OR operation between two or more criterion. In this matter, the first party may, for example, specify qualification formula that requires that a qualified second party reside within a predetermined geographic area and not have received more than a predetermined number of negative feedback comments.

Returning now to the method 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12, having generated and displayed the input user interface at block 1204, at block 1206 the first party (e.g., a selling user) inputs items and criterion information into the item and criterion information input user interface. At block 1208, the inputted item and criterion information is transmitted from the first party to the commerce system 1100.

At block 1210, the commerce system 1100 generates an item record that is written into an items table within the database 1112 and a criteria record that is written into a criteria table, also maintained within the database 1112. Specifically, upon receipt of the transmitted item and criterion information at a web server 1104, the parser 1122 extracts the item and criterion information, which is then communicated to the database engine server 1106. The database engine server 1106 proceeds to build the appropriate records and write them into the appropriate tables within the database 1112.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary items table 1400, and indicates the various fields that may be populated for each record within this table 1400.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary criteria table 1500. Each record within the criteria table 1500 is shown to include a criteria identifier 1502 that may operate as a primary key for the table 1500, and be utilized to associate a particular criterion record with one or more item records within the items table 1400 or with one or more party (e.g., user) records of within a party table 602. A record within the criteria table 1500 may also include an Approved Second Party entry 1504 that identifies the parties (e.g., users) for which records exist within the party table 602 and that have been manually approved to transact by the first party. In an alternative embodiment, as discussed above, a Preapproved Parties table may be maintained separate of the criteria table 1500. An entry within the Approved Second Party field 1504 of a particular record within the criteria table 1500 may also be linked to a record within an authorized party table 610.

Having received item information relating to and describing an item, and criterion information specifying at least one criterion to be satisfied by a second party in order for the second party to be qualified to transact for an item, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a criteria enforcement process is implemented by the commerce system 1100. In one embodiment, the criteria enforcement process involves automatically determining whether a second party satisfies at least one criterion specified by the criterion information and, if so, then automatically qualifying the second party to transact for an item, or group of items, via the commerce system 110. As described above, through the item and criterion information input user interface 1300, the commerce system 1100 allows a first party to specify one or more criterion to be satisfied by a second party to qualify to transact. As also described above, the first user, when specifying multiple criteria, can define a qualification formula or function utilizing the multiple criteria. For example, the first party has the option of specifying AND and OR relationships between individual criterion so as to construct a customized qualification formula (or function).

In one embodiment, the criteria enforcement process is performed by the qualification module 1108 of the application server 1102. The qualification module 1108 makes an assessment as to whether a second party satisfies one or more criterion specified by a first party utilizing input received from the second party via a user interface and communicated to the web server 1104, or utilizing data regarding the second party extracted from the database 1112 by the database engine server 1106.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a first exemplary method 1600 whereby a commerce system 1100 may automatically qualify a second party to transact, or disqualify a second party from transacting, with respect to a particular item, or group of items.

The method 1600 commences at block 1602 with the generation and transmission of navigation user interface data from the commerce system 1100 to a second user (e.g., to a personal computer or mobile device operated by the second user). Specifically, the page build module 1120 of the web server 1104 may, in one embodiment, construct a markup language document that instructs the generation of a suitable navigation user interface to the second party. The navigation user interface may facilitate navigation of a large number of items offered for transacting by the commerce system 1100 according to any one or more of a number of transaction processes. For example, the navigation user interface may allow the second party to perform key word searches of item descriptions contained in the items table 1400. The navigation user interface may also allow the second party to locate items of interest by browsing established categories supported by the commerce system 1100. For example, with reference to FIG. 14, it will be noted that the items table 1400 includes a category field whereby a particular item may be conveniently categorized according to a category scheme supported by the commerce system 1100.

At block 1604, a navigation user interface is generated and displayed to the second party. For example, where the navigation user interface data comprises a markup language document, a browser operating on a personal computer of the second user may utilize the user interface data to generate and display the navigation user interface.

At block 1606, the second party (e.g., a buyer user), inputs navigation information into the navigation user interface with the purpose of locating one or more item records that are of interest. As mentioned above, the second party may, for example, provide search key words, or specify a certain item category, with a view to locating item records of interest.

At block 1608, the navigation information inputted into the navigation user interface, as well as an identifier identifying the second party, is transmitted to the commerce system 1100. For example, the identifier identifying the second party may be a session ID established during an online session between the second party and the commerce system 1100, or an identifier extracted from a cookie stored on a computing device operated by the second party. Further, the identifier for the second party may be a user ID entered by the second party into the navigation user interface (or a preceding logon interface)

At block 1610, the navigation information is received by the commerce system 1100, and specifically by the parser 1122 of the web server 1104 that operates to extract the navigation information from a network transmission. The parser 1122 then communicates the navigation information (e.g., a search term or a category identifier) to an appropriate item records query 1114 that locates item records within the items table 1400 according to the navigation information. The located item records are then communicated from the item records query 1114 to the qualification module 1108.

At block 1612, in one embodiment, identifiers for the located item records are communicated from the item records query 1114 to a criteria query 116 that, at block 1612, accesses, searches and locates criteria records within the criteria table 1500 that are associated with the located items. As noted above with reference to FIG. 16, a criteria identifier 1502 may map to one or more records within the items table 1400.

A criteria record within the criteria table 1500 may also be associated with a particular party, for which a record exists within the party table 602. In this case, an appropriate criteria query 1116 may operate to identify a first party associated with a specific located item record (e.g., a seller), and then perform a query against the party table 602 to identify one or more criteria identifiers 1502 associated with the relevant first party. Having then located a criteria identifier associated with the first party, the criteria query 116 may then access the criteria table 1500 to locate and retrieve an appropriate criteria record. It will be appreciated that where multiple located item records exist, different criteria records may be associated with each of these item records, either directly or indirectly through a first party (e.g., a seller). Accordingly, a criteria record may in this way be associated with each of the located item records.

At decision box 1614, for each located item record, a determination is made as to whether a criterion, or multiple criteria, specified within a criteria record associated with the item record is satisfied. It will of course be appreciated that this determination is dependent upon the criterion specified by the appropriate criteria record, and optionally also by the nature of the criteria formula (or function) that may be expressed in terms of such multiple criterion.

Examples of criterion that may be specified are described above with reference to the input user interface 1300 illustrated in FIG. 13 and the criteria table 1500, illustrated in FIG. 15. In order to assess whether a single criterion, multiple criteria, or even a criteria formula is satisfied by the second party, it will be appreciated that information regarding the second party is required. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination made at decision block 1614 is made by the qualification module 1108 of the application server 1102, utilizing criteria records located by one or more criteria queries 1116, and profile data concerning the second party extracted by one or more profile queries 1118 from profile tables maintained within the database 1112. The identifier for the second party, transmitted to the commerce system 1100 at block 1608 is parsed by the parser 1122 of the web server 1104, and utilized at decision block 1614 to identify profile records within profile tables for the second party.

FIG. 18 provides diagrammatic representations of two such exemplary profile tables that may be maintained within the database 1112, namely a master profile table 1800 and an activity profile table 1802. The exemplary master profile table 1800 is populated with records for each party that has registered to utilize the commerce system 1100. Each record contains personal information regarding the appropriate party that may be voluntary submitted by the relevant party, or gleaned from external sources. For example, a record within the master profile table 1800 may indicate the address, language preference, currency preference, age and credit rating of an appropriate party. The address, language preference, currency preference and age information may be gleaned from the relevant party as part of a registration process for utilization of the commerce system 1100. The credit rating information may, as illustrated, be obtained from a third party credit bureau.

The activity profile table 1802 may similarly contain a record for each party that utilizes the commerce system 1100. However, this profile table 1802 may contain information reflecting behavioral and transactional characteristics of the relevant party, as observed or tracked by the commerce system 1100 over a period of time. Both positive and negative characteristics or activities of a particular party may be recorded within the profile table 1802. For example, the exemplary activity profile table 1802 is show to maintain an indication of a number of bids retracted by a particular party within the context of auction process transactions. A record within the activity profile table 1802 may also indicate a number of payment failures associated with the relevant party, a number of delivery failures associated with the relevant party, a total of number of complaints received against, or issued by, the relevant party, and a total number of violations of rules of the commerce system 1100 attributable to the relevant party. It will of course be appreciated that a wide range of other activities and characteristics of a particular party may be tracked within one or more tables similar to the activity profile table 1802. Of course, the activities or characteristics tracked within a profile table 1802 may be such so as to support the various criteria options that may be presented to a first party within a criterion information portion 1304 of an item and criterion information input user interface 1300.

In the exemplary embodiment, the qualification module 1108, having collected one or more criteria records and the appropriate profile information regarding the second user, is able to make a determination as to whether the second party satisfies one or more criterion associated with a specific item record.

If the criteria expressed by a criteria record associated with a particular item record are determined to have been satisfied at decision block 1614, at block 1616, the relevant item record is added to a set of navigation results. The set of navigation results includes, in one embodiment, only those item records for which the second party is identified as being a qualified party. At decision block 1618, a determination is made as to whether there are further item records for which associated criteria must be assessed. If so, the method 1600 loops back to decision block 1614.

Similarly, if the criteria associated with a particular located item record are determined at decision block 1614 not to be satisfied, the method 1600 progresses directly from decision block 1614 to decision block 1618.

Once it has been determined at decision block 1618 that no further item records require consideration, the method 1600 progresses to block 1620. At block 1620, the commerce system 1100, and specifically the page build module 1120 of the web server 1104, generates and transmits navigation result user interface data to the user. The navigation result user interface data includes an identifier for each of the located item records that were included within the navigation results at block 1616. The page build module 1120 receives the navigation results from the qualification module 1108. In addition to communicating the navigation results to the page build module 1120, the qualification module 1108 also operates to enable the second party to transact for items identified in the navigation results. In one embodiment, this enablement is achieved by including an identifier for the second party within the Approved Second Party field 1504 of the appropriate criteria table 1500. In an alternative embodiment, the items table 1400 may include an Approved Second Party field (not shown) in which an indication of second parties that have been approved, manually or automatically, is stored.

At block 1628, an application executing on a computing device (e.g., a browser executing on a personal computer) generates and displays a navigation result user interface, identifying the navigation results.

At block 1624, the second party selects an item from the navigation results to transact. From block 1624, a transaction process, facilitated in one embodiment by a transaction module 1110 of the application server 1102, is commenced. Further details regarding an exemplary transaction process are described below with reference to FIG. 17.

In summary, it will be appreciated that the exemplary criterion enforcement process implemented by the method 1600 operates to enable a qualified second party to transact with respect to an item by only presenting details regarding the item to the second party once the second party has been qualified. In other words, the qualification process acts as a filter so that the second party is only presented with the details for items for which the second party has been automatically (or manually) pre-qualified. This exemplary embodiment has the advantage of not frustrating the second party by allowing the commencement of a transaction process with respect to an item for which the second party may not qualify to transact.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating a second exemplary enforcement process that may be implemented by a method 1700. Blocks 1702-1710 correspond substantially to the operations performed at blocks 1602-1610 described above with reference to FIG. 16. Moving on to block 1712, a set of navigation results is constructed to include all item records located at block 1710 utilizing the navigation information (e.g., a search term or a category identifier). The method 1700 thus differs from the method 1600 in that the navigation results include all record items located by a search and not only item records for which a particular second party qualifies.

At block 1714, the page build module 1120 of the web page server 1104 builds navigation results user interface data utilizing the navigation results as received directly from an item records query 1114 and transmits this navigation result user interface data to a computing device operated by a second party for display.

At block 1716, an appropriate application executing on a computing device operated by the second party (e.g., a browser being executed on a personal computer) operates to generate and display a navigation result user interface that includes identifiers for each item record included within the navigation results.

At block 1718, the second party selects one or more items from the navigation results for which the second party wishes to commence a transaction process utilizing the commerce system 1100. For example, the second party may select a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with a particular item to perform the selection of the item.

At block 1720, information identifying the selected item is transmitted from the computing device operated by the second user to the commerce system 1100. For example, an HTTP PUT request may be dispatched from the computing device responsive to user selection of a URL associated with the selected item.

At block 1722, the parser 122 of the web server 1104 receives the data transmission initiated at block 1720, and parses the transmission to locate an identifier identifying the selected item. The parser 1122 then communicates the extracted identifier to an appropriate item record query 1114 of the database engine server that performs access, search and location operations with respect to the criteria table 1500 to identify a criteria record, specifying one or more criterion, associated with the selected item. It will of course be appreciated that this lookup operation may involve initially performing a lookup on an items table to obtain a relevant criteria ID with which to perform a lookup on the criteria table 1500.

Again, a criteria record may be associated directly with an items record, or may be associated indirectly with an item record through being associated directly with a party record for a party (e.g., the first party acting in the capacity of a seller) associated with an appropriate items record.

At decision block 1724, the qualification module 1108 of the application server 1102 operates to make a determination regarding whether a single criterion, or criteria, specified by the located criteria record is satisfied. As described above with reference to FIG. 16, this determination at block 1724 may, in one embodiment, involve the qualification module 1108 invoking one or more profile queries 1106 against profile tables stored within the database 1112 in order to retrieve profile information (e.g., from a master profile table 1800 and an activity profile table 1802) pertaining to the second party. The second party may be identified in any one of a number of ways (e.g., utilizing a session identifier initiated following a logon process, or utilizing identify information stored within a cookie on a computing device of the second party).

Following a positive determination by the qualification module 1108, at block 1726, the second party is qualified and enabled to transact for the relevant item. As described above, the enablement of the second user may involve storing appropriate identifier information within a relevant record within the criteria table 1500, the items table 1400 and/or the party table 602.

As a result of the qualification and enablement at block 1726, the transaction module 1110 is invoked to generate and communicate transaction information pertaining to the relevant item to the page build module 1120, which then generates and transmits transaction user interface data to a computing device of the second user.

At block 1730, an application executing on the client computing device (e.g., a browser executing on a personal computer) operates to generate and display a transaction user interface. The transaction module 1110 may operate to facilitate one or more transaction processes (e.g., a regular auction process and/or a fixed price process) via which the item may be transacted. Accordingly, the transaction user interface data, and the transaction user interface itself will reflect information concerning the one or more transaction processes supported by the transaction module 1110.

At block 1732, the second party then inputs appropriate transaction data. For example, within an auction process, the transaction data may include a bid specifying a price and other information specific to the auction type. In the case of a fixed price process, the transaction data may be acceptance of an offer to purchase an item at a fixed price, or an offer to purchase an item at a particular fixed price.

At block 1734, the transaction data is transmitted by the computing device of the second party to the commerce system 1100 for processing by the transaction module 1110 within the context of an appropriate transaction process.

Returning to decision block 1724, following a negative determination at block 1726, the second party is disqualified and disabled from transacting for the particular item, and a decline user interface data is generated and transmitted to the second party at block 1738. At block 1740 an application executing on a client machine operated by the second party generates and displays a decline user interface, advising the second party that the second party has been disqualified from transacting for the item. In this case, the decline user interface may optionally provide one or more reasons to the second party for the disqualification by the qualification module 1108. For example, the second party may be advised that he or she has been disqualified as a result of an excessive number of retracted bids within a predetermined time period (e.g., one month) preceding a current date.

In summary, the exemplary criteria enforcement process implemented by the method 1700 is advantageous in that the qualification assessment, performed at block 1724, is only performed for a selected item in which a second party indicates express interest. This is different from the exemplary criteria enforcement process of method 1600 where the qualification process is performed with respect to each and every item located by a search. Accordingly, the criterion enforcement process of method 1700 is advantageous in that it may be computationally less demanding of the commerce system 1100.

It will be appreciated that the exemplary enforcement criteria enforcement processes described above as being implemented by methods 1600 and 1700 are merely two examples of multiple ways in which a criteria enforcement policy may be implemented. For example, a qualification assessment may be made at any stage during a particular navigation or transaction process. Furthermore, a criterion expressed within a criteria record may be of such a nature that a determination as to whether the criterion is satisfied may only be made once the transaction process has progressed to a certain stage. For example, the criterion may comprise a transaction criterion that relates to transaction activity pertaining to the transaction of the specific item. In this case, the transaction criterion may specify that a second party becomes disqualified from transacting for the item when the second party submits a bid price offer that is in excess of a threshold value that clearly exceeds any reasonable offer price for the relevant item. Such an excessive bid offer price may be indicative of the fact that the bid offer lacks sincerity, and is in fact a hoax. Further, the transaction criteria may operate automatically to disqualify the second party from transacting further with respect to a particular item when the second party performs a particular transaction activity. For example, were the second party to retract a bid for a particular item, this transaction activity may disqualify the second party from attempting to again transact for the specific item (e.g., submit a further bid) for the relevant item.

The above exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to transactions pertaining to an item. It will be understood that an item covers both a product (or goods) and a service (or services).

FIG. 19 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the exemplary form of a computer system 1900 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed above, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine may comprise a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance or any machine capable of executing a sequence of instructions that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Within the context of the above exemplary embodiments, the machine may a server machine on which any of the described servers may be hosted. The machine may also comprise a computing device utilized by a party to access and interact with the commerce system 1100.

The computer system 1900 includes a processor 1902, a main memory 1904 and a static memory 1906, which communicate with each other via a bus 1908. The computer system 1900 may further include a video display unit 1910 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 1900 also includes an alphanumeric input device 1912 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 1914 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1916, a signal generation device 1918 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 1920.

The disk drive unit 1916 includes a machine-readable medium 1922 on which is stored a set of instructions (i.e., software) 1924 embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies described above. The software 1924 is also shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 1904 and/or within the processor 1902. The software 1924 may further be transmitted or received via the network interface device 1920. For the purposes of this specification, the term “machine-readable medium” shall be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, carrying or encoding a sequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic disks, and carrier wave signals.

Thus, a method and system to qualify a party to transact within a network-based commerce facility have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Preist, Chris, "Adaptive Agents in a persistent shout double auction", International conference on Information and Computation Economies, Proceedings of the first international conference on Information and computation economies, Oct. 25-28, 1998, (1998), 11-18.